This Nubian temple was constructed
during the years 5-35 of Ramesses II's reign. It is the greatest of the
seven rock-cut temples constructed by Ramesses II. The temple is
dedicated to the deified Ramesses himself, along with the three state
gods: Re-Horakhty of Heliopolis, Ptah of Memphis and Amun of Thebes.
The four colossal seated statues of Ramesses were carved showing the
double crown as well as the nemes headdress. The King is flanked by
small statues of his mother Queen Tuya, his wife Queen Nefertari and
several of his sons and daughters. On the south side of the terrace is
a chapel dedicated to Thoth, as well as a stela commemorating the
marriage of Ramesses to Maat-Hor-Neferure, the daughter of the Hittite
King Hattusilis. On the north side of the terrace is a sun-chapel.
This magnificent temple was moved to higher ground in the 1960s.

To the north of the great temple
is a
smaller rock-cut temple. This temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari
and Hathor of Ibshek. The faC'ade of the temple shows colossal statues
of both Ramesses and Queen Nefertari. Smaller statues of their sons and
daughters flank the colossal statues of the king and Queen.

Known as Abdju in ancient times.
Ramesses II completed his father Sety I's temple, and constructed his
own temples. Ramesses constructed a portal temple, whose function may
have been to serve as a terminus of a processional route. His cenotaph
temple is patterned on the plan of a mortuary temple and some of the
reliefs that remain today show beautifully colored scenes.

The first pylon of the temple has disappeared, and no trace of
the
roof remains.

Scenes from the walls of the Second Court. Priest bring
offerings to
the temple.

On the left, an entrance to a small chapel with images of
Ramesses
wearing the white and red crowns of egypt.On the right, Ramesses II in a boat drawn by the souls of Pe
and
Nekhen.

A close-up of the gods pulling the boat and on the right the
image
of the god Thoth.

On the left, foreign prisoners with the names of
captured
territories.
On the right, Ramesses II before offerings (to Hathor).

On the left, goddesses representing the nomes of Egypt
On the right, one of three chapels dedicated to the Ennead

On the left, Ramesses and Horus in one of the three chapels.
On the right, Ramesses II before Osiris and a winged Djed-pillar.

On the left, a scene from a small side chapel off the Second
Court.
On the right, a procession carrying a barque and offerings.

A relief showing the rekhyt on an outer wall of the temple.

Akhmim

In ancient times known as Ipu, later known as Khent-menu (Khemmis).A temple from the time of Ramesses
II was found at this site. Remains of a colossal statue of Ramesses
with Princess Queens Bint-Anath and Merytamen were found. The site is
also famous for the colossal statue of Princess-Queen Merytamen.

White Queen from Akhmin
(Picture by Sesen)

Aksha
(Serra West)

This site, north of Wadi Halfa, in Nubia contained a temple and various
chapel of Ramesses II. The temple was dedicated to Amun, Re and
Ramesses himself in deified form.

This Nubian town near the third
cataract
of the Nile was the site of a temple of Ramesses II. The temple was
dedicated to Amun and several local gods

Beit
el-Wali

This Nubian temple was dedicated
to
Amun, but there are also statues of Isis, Horus, Khnum, Satis and
Anukis in the sanctuary. Ramesses had this temple carved into a
sandstone hillside. The temple was moved to higher ground (New
Kalabsha) after the construction of the Awan dam.

War scene. Ramesses is followed by his sons Amenherkhepeshef
and
Khaemwaset.

The entrance of the temple.
Ramesses II offering Maat.

Horus and Hathor depicted on the walls.
Hathor offers the heb-sed jubilee.

Ramesses making an offering in the sanctuary.

Bubastis

Bubastis is also referred to as
Tell
Basta. The city was the cult center of the cat-goddess Bastet and her
sons Mihos and Horhekenu. Ramesses added to the temple complex, and a
colossal statue of a Queen (Merytamen?) has been found at the site.
See Alain Guilleux's site for more information: http://alain.guilleux.free.fr/boubastis/boubastis.html

The colossal statue of the
Queen

Deir
el-Medina

A temple dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu was erected by Ramesses.

Derr

Ramesses II dedicated this Nubian
rock-cut tomb to Ptah, Amun-Re, the deified Ramesses, and Re-Harakhty.
The temple is cut in a way similar to that of Abu Simbel, except that
there are no seated colossi in front of the temple. This temple was
later used as a Christian church and several decorations were lost at
that time. The temple was moved to higher ground in 1964.

The main temple of the site is dedicated to Khnum, ram-headed lord of
Elephantine. There is also a smaller temple of Satis, who is part of
the major triad of the area: Khnum, Satis and Anukis. Ramesses II added
to the temple of Khnum.

El
Kab

El-Kab was known as Nekhen in
ancient
times. The temple of Thoth began in the earlier part of the 18th
dynasty, and the outer pylon area was completed by Ramesses.

Ramesses enlarged this Nubian rock-cut chapel of Hathor of Ibshek. The
chapel was probably started in the early 18th dynasty and later added
onto by Tutankhamen and then further modified by Ramesses II.

Gebel
el-Silsila

Horemheb built the great Speos at
this
site. Sety I, Ramesses II and Merenptah later added three cenotaphs to
the south of the Speos.

Gerf
Hussein

This Nubian temple of Ramesses II
was
partially free-standing and partially cut into the rock-face. The basic
plan is similar to that of Abu Simbel (but at a much smaller scale).
The temple was dedicated to Ptah, Ptah-Tatenen, Hathor, and the deified
Ramesses himself.

The ancient city of Iunu was the
site of
the Great temple of Atum. Mery-Atum, son of Ramesses and Nefertari
served as High Priest of Atum at this temple.
Recent excavations at Ain-Shams have included the site of an enormous
temple from the time of Ramesses II dedicated to the god Re. According
to Dr. Hawass: "We are excavating the
entrance area and the west side, and have found magazines for the
storage of wheat, a kiln for making amulets, part of a large statue,
the head of which weighs 5 tons and would have stood 6 meters tall, and
another head of granite, weighing 2 tons." (see Dr.
Hawass' website for the report)

Herakleopolis
Magna

Known in ancient times as
Henen-nesut,
later called Herakleopolis Magna, modern Ihnasya el-Medina. The Cult
center for the ram-headed god Herishef (Harsaphes). This temple was
enlarged by Ramesses.

Hermopolis

Known as Khmun in ancient times.
Dedicated to the god Thoth (Hermes), but there was also a temple
dedicated to Amun. A pylon from the time of Ramesses II exists to the
south, as well as two colossi.

Karnak

Karnak was known as Ipet-Isut in
ancient
times. The main temple is dedicated to Amun, with subsidiary temples
deicated to Mut, Khonsu, Ptah, etc. Ramesses II added a quay to the
complex on the west. He added two colossi before the second pylon. The
hypostyle hall was started by Amenhotep III, continued by Sety I and
finally completed under Ramesses II.

The avenue of Sphinxes.

On the left, the hypostyle hall. On the right Ramesses and
Amun (or
Min?)

On the left: South facade of the Hypostyle Hall; Ramesses II
recorded his victory at the battle of Kadesh.
On the right: South facade of the Hypostyle Hall; more scenes from the
battle of Kadesh.

Ramesses II built a temple to Re-Harakhty and Amun. This is
one of
the two Osiris figures flanking the entrance.

Luxor

Ramesses constructed a large
pillared
court and a pylon. The pylon is decorated with scenes from Kadesh. He
also ordered the construction of a triple barque shrine for the
visiting deities Amun, Mut, and Khonsu from Karnak.

On the left, Queen Nefertari next to a colossal statue of her
husband.On the right, Princess-Queen Bint-Anath

Medinet
el-Fayum

Known in ancient times as Shedyet,
later
called Crocodilopolis and after that Arsinoe. Modern Medinet el-Fayum.
This site was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek. A middle kingdom
temple was expanded by Ramesses II.

Memphis , modern Mit
Rahina

Ramesses constructed a great temple to Ptah. His son Khaemwaset, and
grandson Hori would later serve as high priests. Outside the
enclosure of Ptah, Ramesses built a small temple for Hathor.

Per-Ramesses
(also called
Pi-Ramesses), modern Qantir.

<>Temples of Re, Amun, Ptah
and
Seth, as
well as smaller temples dedicated to Wadjet and Astarte were
constructed in this city.
<>

Ramesseum

The mortuary temple of Ramesses ,
located on the west bank of the Nile in Thebes. This complex was
started as early as year 2 of his reign. The temple was constructed for
the king by Penre of Coptos and Amenmone of Abydos.
Associated with the Ramesseum are:

Chapel of the White Queen: This chapel immediately outside the
walls of the Ramesseum contained the famous statue of Princess-Queen
Merytamen.

Temple of Tuya and Nefertari: This small temple adjoined the
Ramesseun on the north side and seems to have been dedicated to his
mother Tuya and principal
wife Nefertari.

The sons depicted in the scene above. On the left, the three
eldest:
Amenhirkhepeshef, Ramesses and Prehirwenemef.
On the right, sons 3 through 7.(Photos by Sesen)

Wadi-es-Sebua

This Nubian temple was partially
fee-standing and partially rock-cut. The temple of Ramesses II was
dedicated to Amun-Re and Re-Harakhty. This temple included a sphinx
lined approach. The court contained 10 statues of Ramesses, executed in
the rather heavy round style of the area. This temple was moved to a
new site after the construction of the Aswan Dam. There was also a
temple dedicated to the Nubian form of Horus and Amun in the area. This
temple was built by Amenhotep III, damaged during the Amarna period,
and finally restored by Ramesses II. This temple is now covered by Lake
Nasser.